Appalachian State
Athletics Hall of Famer and tennis standout, Norman Arthur Chambers, 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 25 after valiantly fighting brain cancer.
Chambers was born in Asheville, and graduated with his MBA from App State. He played tennis for the Mountaineers from 1962-64 and became the first-ever men's tennis student-athlete to be inducted into the App State Hall of Fame in 1980.
He played tennis for the Air Force from 1956-1960, won over 600 tennis tournaments, and was the North Carolina State tennis champion 38 times. Not only was he a great tennis player, he also won the North Carolina State racquetball championship for 10 straight years. He was the only player to ever win the Southern Racquetball Championship AND the Southern Tennis Championship in the same year. In later years, he added golf to his list of sports and spent many hours on the North Ridge Country Club golf course. As amazing as he was in sports, he exceeded his abilities when it came to being a wonderful husband, father, and friend.
He is survived by his loving wife Linda, daughter Jen Tolbert (Terry), son Norman Chambers Jr.; grandchildren Morgan (Patrick), Mary Madison, Jake, Sophie, and Alex, along with his step grandchildren TJ and Katie; siblings Bill Chambers, Toni Muse (Charlie), Patty Perry, Pam Martin (Phil), his cousin Phyllis Brown, and loving nieces and nephews.
When asked how he was doing, he would often say 'Better than Good'. Although he will be GREATLY missed by his friends and family, we know that he is celebrating a new body in heaven. Friends and family are invited to celebrate his life on Saturday, August 4th at 11 am at Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh. A visitation will follow in the church fellowship hall after the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Norm's honor to: The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center with a focus on Glioblastoma Multiforme. (
https://tischbraintumorcenter.duke.edu/)
The family expresses their sincere gratitude to the staff at Duke Hospital, Pruitt Rehab, Transitions Hospice, our church family, and so many friends who supported us through the past 20 months.
FAMILY
He is survived by his loving wife Linda, daughter Jen Tolbert (Terry), son Norman Chambers Jr.; grandchildren Morgan (Patrick), Mary Madison, Jake, Sophie, and Alex, along with his step grandchildren TJ and Katie; siblings Bill Chambers, Toni Muse (Charlie), Patty Perry, Pam Martin (Phil), his cousin Phyllis Brown, and loving nieces and nephews.
